Accusing the BJP of introducing “a divisive agenda” in governance, Stalin warned that the Bill would “create unnecessary legal hurdles for Waqf institutions” and “strip them of their rightful autonomy.” (Express File Photo)
Wearing a black ribbon as a mark of protest, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Thursday condemned the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in Lok Sabha and declared that his state would “fight against the BJP government on the issue of Waqf properties and emerge victorious”.
“A majority of the political parties in India opposed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. It is condemnable that the Bill has been passed in Lok Sabha despite widespread opposition to its provisions. Though the Bill has been passed, nobody should overlook the number of votes against it,” Stalin told the Tamil Nadu Assembly, recalling that the House had passed a resolution against the Bill last week.
The Bill was passed at around 2 am in Lok Sabha with 288 votes in favour and 232 against. Stalin termed this “an attack on the Constitution of India”.
“This is an attempt to disturb communal harmony in the country. Let me tell this House that the DMK will challenge the Bill in the Supreme Court,” he said.
While moving the resolution against the Bill on March 27, Stalin had criticised the Union government. “The Waqf (Amendment) Bill is nothing but another attempt by the Union government to interfere in the religious administration of Muslims. The law, if passed, will give greater control to the government over Waqf properties, thereby undermining their autonomy. This is against the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution,” he had said earlier.
Accusing the BJP of introducing “a divisive agenda” in governance, Stalin warned that the Bill would “create unnecessary legal hurdles for Waqf institutions” and “strip them of their rightful autonomy”.
During Thursday’s proceedings, Stalin said the proposed amendments to the Waqf Act, 1995, are detrimental to the religious harmony of India and will severely impact the minority Muslim community. He added that the amendment Bill should not just be opposed but be completely withdrawn.
Members of the DMK and its coalition allies wore black badges in the Assembly as a show of protest, while BJP MLAs staged a walkout. The principal Opposition, AIADMK, and other parties welcomed Stalin’s stand and joined in demanding the Bill’s withdrawal.
BJP Tamil Nadu president K Annamalai dismissed the protest, alleging in a social media post that “the DMK is staging a drama to save a portion of their minority vote bank”.
“Has the TN CM not realised that it is not just Hindus but also Christians who are the affected parties due to the previous Waqf law?” he asked. “The DMK will make this an election plank and misguide innocent Muslims in the 2026 Assembly and 2029 Parliament elections. The DMK only knows how to deceive and divide,” he alleged.